Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by Trebor

I haven’t tried these yet but I find the bottle design/packaging rather off-putting. When I see the lettering/font, I vaguely think either Montale or Mancera; when I look at the vertical label and cylindrical shape of the bottle, I think L’Artisan; and when I look at the bottle/lid novelty, I think Signature pour Homme by ST Dupont.

I mean, if you’re going to go out on a limb and release an expensive fragrance in a unique-looking bottle, at least bring some originality to the table or don’t even bother.

Trebor, I totally disagree. The quality of the design and of the materials is standout in my opinion, exeptional. I am not always too bothered about bottle design, (although I know that lots of people are), but sometimes you just have to aknowledge great design, and this is one of those times in my opinion. The bottle and cap have a lovely heft in the hand, they look fantastic, and expensive, the cap mechanism is great. The bottle comes in a Bakelite Cannister instead of a box. This is great on several levels, great look, great feel, and it keeps the fragrance protected from light. Lovely to own and to handle, and they would make an exceptionally nice gift. You may feel differently once you have had the opportunity to handle one. Please come back and let us know.

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Originally Posted by knit at nite

Hiya,
I had signed up for Foustie gel's sample pass but there was a disconnect somewhere. So I got the Luckyscent sample pack.

Oh I know Knit. Bummer! But now you have the whole range! Welcome to the chat. It is so great to see you finally!!

Kalli, can we take it that you weren't keen on the Iris? It's my favourite!!

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by Foustie

Trebor, I totally disagree. The quality of the design and of the materials is standout in my opinion, exeptional. I am not always too bothered about bottle design, (although I know that lots of people are), but sometimes you just have to aknowledge great design, and this is one of those times in my opinion. The bottle and cap have a lovely heft in the hand, they look fantastic, and expensive, the cap mechanism is great. The bottle comes in a Bakelite Cannister instead of a box. This is great on several levels, great look, great feel, and it keeps the fragrance protected from light. Lovely to own and to handle, and they would make an exceptionally nice gift. You may feel differently once you have had the opportunity to handle one. Please come back and let us know.

As you already own a bottle, you may be right. I'll have to wait and see...

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

As you already own a bottle, you may be right. I'll have to wait and see...

But did such a thought cross your mind before obtaining it?

Originally Posted by Foustie

It didn't actually Trebor, but you are right about the vertical labels being reminiscent of L'Artisan.

I agree - reminiscent of L'Artisan. I noticed that immediately. However, I *love* the L'Artisan bottles, and this is what I love on steroids, with a completely different cap, so I was smitten.

And then there's the cap. OK - I'll admit that I'm a bottle guy at this point. But look at this stuff....

*drools*

It may not be a first of its kind on the lid, but it's pretty damn nice, and together with the whole package, I think it's pretty sharp.

The scents are not - being perfectly honest - any better than a lot of other great stuff out there. However, they are somewhat novel in that space, so if you're looking for something newish in the high-end designer / accessible niche category, they're perfect. There is bound to be one that works really well. I've found 1 worth gushing and 3 worth recommending (out of 6 smelled). My wife had a very high ratio of "I like it" to "smells ordinary", which is her response to most fragrances. I would not recommend them to anybody allergic to modernity, because I think part of what makes them novel is precisely that - enough modernity to not seem stuffy in the slightest. But not too much. A really nice balance of smelling stylistically "fresh" but reserved enough to remain classy.

Except for Lovely Day. I DO NOT GET that scent AT ALL. One moment I thought it was daring and a real story-teller, the next minute I thought it was amateurish. I simply have to recuse myself on that one.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Yeah, I can't deny that the first time I saw Monegal's bottle I immediately tought about L'Artisan but then I got my first full bottle...The packaging is absolutely stunning and a CONSIDERABLE improvement on what L'Artisam made several years ago. The bottle is incredibly solid and heavy with the cap adding a very special touch. I'm growing very fond of these bottles. The fragrances, on the other hand, are very hit or miss. I completely fell for Entre Naranjos (which is sort of a fresher version of Mark Birley For Men) and Agar Musk (IMO the standout of the whole line).

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto

Except for Lovely Day. I DO NOT GET that scent AT ALL. One moment I thought it was daring and a real story-teller, the next minute I thought it was amateurish. I simply have to recuse myself on that one.

Lol, I ordered a sample of that off Luckyscent(not affiliated)..and ya, I was like what is lovely about this??? Everything I wanted to be able to sniff in it, I just didn't get much of. I think I gave it away already LOL.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Testing Ambra Di Luna...

Very nice stuff from Mr.Monegal. Ambra di Luna opens with a slightly boozy amber note immediately joined by castoreum providing the right amount of "dirtyness" and immediately bringing to mind of a brutally tamed down Muscs Koublai Khan. Where are you going? Come back here, Ambra Di Luna doesn't share any similarities with the Lutens. The castoreum is really subtle and serves as a necessarely balance for the typical sweetness of most ambers. As the fragrance "evolves", there's a woody-balmy quality remarking its presence and driving the composition towards moderately sweet territories. Elegant, solid and well balanced with compelling dry undertones. If you like Monegal's restrained style, this is a great fragrance well worth checking out. Not as heavy or pwdery as other compositions in the same genre yet pretty darned solid.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

So, I sprayed the Ambra Di Luna on skin and not on paper and more of it...ok, well I get super animalic now! Whoa, it's like really animalic. Kinda has something similar with Prada L'eau Ambree(probably the amber LOLOL)..but not nearly as much. I get a dark, masculine, animal amber...then fades into something more feminine. L'eau Ambree is way more feminine and no animal bombness to it, lol. Sorry, lol. My newbness coming out I suppose. Makes sense that this is a unisex..masculine on the top notes..feminine on the dry down. Do I like it as much? Well, I don't know! Not as much I don't think. It's bad at all though. Sorry guys..total newb I guess still lol.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

OK, I have also been getting to know Ambra de Luna too, and it has turned out to be one of my favourites in the range.

Ambra de Luna;

Amber, Labdanum, Jasmine, Castoruem, Sandalwood.

In my view this is one of those of those fragrances that is more than the sum of it's parts. It is beautifully composed, beautifully balanced, beautifully cohesive. It doesn't lend itself to being picked apart.

I absolutely concur with Alfarom that the overall impression is of a slightly boozy, (but only very slighty), amber with castoreum right there from the outset. Castoreum is my favourite animalic material. It is warm and soft and reassuring, like resting your head on a warm animals belly, or maybe your lover's. It is the perfect partner for Amber.

Ambra de Luna is the scent of contentment.

Imagine maybe a little cabin somewhere, a glow from the fire, a glass of muscat, and someone that you love. Time is slow, you are comfortable and reassured. To me, that is Ambra de Luna.

It is a beautiful balance of quiet, calm and refined but yet it has a very individual confidence. Ambra de Luna is suitable for both women and men.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Agree Foustie, in my personal list, Ambra Di Luna is up there together with Impossible Iris, Entre Naranjos and Agar Musk (which is still the standout IMO). I've still have to properly test the leathers though...

In the meantime, here are my thoughts on Dry Wood...

With Norlimbanol proudly listed among the notes (the infamous aromachemical by those guys at Firmenich that is present in way too many masculine fragrances of the past 10 years including, Kokorico, Potion, Assolo, Zadig & Voltaire Tomes series, Opus V ecc. ecc.), all you can expect from the fragrance is sharp woods and the typical dry woody-ambery-incensey aroma of this ingredient. With this in mind, Dry Wood delivers exactly what he promises. A modern dry-woody citrus with peppery undertones with an exasperating lasting power. Norlimbanol smells great but it sadly tends to become extremely overpowering to the point to kill almost everything else in the composition. I'm personally not a fan of these type of fragrances, but if you like stuff a-la Mister Marvelous, go ahead...

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Yeah, the Dry Wood. I don't like it either. I find this one odd. It doesn't fit somehow. Looking at the range, some I like, some I don't like, as is always the way, but this one is somehow incongruous with the rest of the range. It seems raw while the others are refined. And although it is not listed, is there is a kinda oudy thing going on? It would be interesting to hear what Sr Monegal would say about this one.

Meantime I would like to hear what hedonist says about it, if he has a sample of that one. He should be here soon hopefully.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Today's scent is Cuirelle. It smells like edible leather, honestly. Like someone poured some honey over leather, and then roasted the whole thing over a cedar block and garnished with patchouli.

The dry down is fantastic. The patchouli dies down considerably, the sweetness increases, and the leather increases. I still smell the cedar, but quite faintly. I applied a spray to my hair, and got a whiff of it all day long, at least 12 hours worth.

As far as leather scents go, this one is not a strong leather, but it is quite an interesting combination. I love my leather with either pipe tobacco or brandy, so this combination was a lovely change.

I agree - unexpected, and a delight to wear.Cuirelle is simply outstanding. Now Mon Cuir on the other end of the spectrum smells like leather soaked in a port-a-potty. Talk about anamalic!

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by alfarom

I completely fell for Entre Naranjos (which is sort of a fresher version of Mark Birley For Men) and Agar Musk (IMO the standout of the whole line).

I think that Entre Naranjos is the easiest one to recommend to guys. I would say that the value of any suit can be doubled simply by spraying and walking through this one. It's easy to love in a Terre d'Hermès way.

Personally, though, I think Agar Musk is the nicest of the "boys" scents that I've smelled so far. The incense is perfect - it is far more reminiscent of "oud wood" than "oud".

But my Monegal money is reserved for L'Eau de Rose. I really think it's the best modern rose I've come across. There is a balance in it that just sets it apart. I love it when artists skew a rose fragrance toward unique places of one kind or another (Rose Rebelle, Rose Ikebana, Egoiste, Rose 31, Windsor, Domenico Caraceni) and even when they're somewhat undecided in their mainstream leanings (D&G the one Rose). L'Eau de Rose, however, has this balance between natural and synthetic, mature and girly, sophisticated and rustic, and just about everything else, which somehow manages to remind me of both poles at once in every direction. It manages to say - very beautifully - so much with so little. I'm positive that it's some kind of fragrant poetry, and I simply have to have it.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

I have been wearing Lovely Day for awhile now. I keep hoping I can fix it somehow (Like Kiss My Name, which was quite nice, but too much treble and not enough bass. The addition of a little wood evened it right out). But I honestly can't come up with anything. It feels like its missing personality, more so than a particular note. You know when you buy a fashion magazine, and all none of the perfume samples actually smell like the perfume they are, and they somehow all smell like each other? This perfume reminds me of that.

So yesterday my mom took the rest of the sample from me. She said it reminded her of something, she just couldn't remember what. It seemed like an appropriate statement for that scent. A least someone is enjoying it.

Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.
~Ann Patchett

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Few days ago I tried Entre Naranjos one more time from my sample. It´s an orange smell very pleasant and natural. I can perceive the oranges with a green aspect wich recreate a walk among orange trees in a sunny day. After an hour (more or less) the green orange smell go down and I perceive some soft woods rising up over the oranges.

It don´t last long on my skin but, as I said, it´s very pleasant and natural.

- A lot of people thinks that they live when the only thing they do is simply exist.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Entre Naranjos:

Sniffed this one. Upon first spray..it's pretty bitter orange..like really sniffing an orange rind. Turns powdery rather quickly..my guess was amber. Something adds sweetness behind the bitter orange(I am not sure what)..and I can't help but think of Fruit Loops a little bit..something like that. But bitter Fruit Loops, lol. I get a flower..perhaps it's that adding the sweetness..not sure. Mostly, this is orange rind though. Remaining bitter... then a background sweetness..then amber and woodiness joins the amber.

Do I like it? Well, I do really like orange..but this is too bitter for me, I like orange..not orange rind. Just personal preference. The dry down is kinda nice..woody amber..I do like that.

Not complex at all. Not very many notes going on with this. As I said, it's a bit bitter for me, going to have to pass on this one.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

I sampled this a couple times 10 days ago. I was crazy about Cuirelle. I decided to order two more samples from Luckyscent to wear a few more times for consideration of a full bottle purchase. These two samples smell totally different than the one I received 10 days ago. I don't like the new ones. Now I don't know which is the real Cuirelle. I'm going to order from First in Fragrance hoping, the real Cuirelle was like my first sample.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by thebeck

I sampled this a couple times 10 days ago. I was crazy about Cuirelle. I decided to order two more samples from Luckyscent to wear a few more times for consideration of a full bottle purchase. These two samples smell totally different than the one I received 10 days ago. I don't like the new ones. Now I don't know which is the real Cuirelle. I'm going to order from First in Fragrance hoping, the real Cuirelle was like my first sample.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto

But my Monegal money is reserved for L'Eau de Rose. I really think it's the best modern rose I've come across. There is a balance in it that just sets it apart. I love it when artists skew a rose fragrance toward unique places of one kind or another (Rose Rebelle, Rose Ikebana, Egoiste, Rose 31, Windsor, Domenico Caraceni) and even when they're somewhat undecided in their mainstream leanings (D&G the one Rose). L'Eau de Rose, however, has this balance between natural and synthetic, mature and girly, sophisticated and rustic, and just about everything else, which somehow manages to remind me of both poles at once in every direction. It manages to say - very beautifully - so much with so little. I'm positive that it's some kind of fragrant poetry, and I simply have to have it.

Happened to have the opportunity to test both L'Eau de Rose and Impossible Iris today looking for a new addition for my GF. I have got to say, that L'Eau de Rose to me has one of the most natural smelling Rose scents I have smelled in a while. It really reminded me of being in a flower shop, full of roses.

When I say natural smell, I am not talking about how much real oils are used versus synthetics, but more the actual smell. When I smell a rose, it is not overpowering, but soft.

Impossible Iris is very nice as well, but I think for my GF, this will be the one.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

I got my luckyscent sample pack a few days ago. I'm definitely wowed by the craftsmanship in each of these compositions. I have a few faves already, but I haven't tried them all yet. The only thing that to me is sadly lacking is longevity and projection. An hour into wearing them I practically have to stick my nose into my wrist to get a faint whiff of any of the scents I've tested so far, which is a shame since the perfumes themselves are amazing - and if they were turned up a little... louder, I expect they'd develop really beautifully on the skin.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Originally Posted by PalmBeach

Happened to have the opportunity to test both L'Eau de Rose and Impossible Iris today looking for a new addition for my GF. I have got to say, that L'Eau de Rose to me has one of the most natural smelling Rose scents I have smelled in a while. It really reminded me of being in a flower shop, full of roses.

When I say natural smell, I am not talking about how much real oils are used versus synthetics, but more the actual smell. When I smell a rose, it is not overpowering, but soft.

Impossible Iris is very nice as well, but I think for my GF, this will be the one.

Both of those are great scents. Yes - the naturalness on this is brilliant - almost surreal. It should almost be "Impossible Rose", but I think that the moisture demands the name that was chosen.

Amazing stuff!

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Originally Posted by apeirohedron

I got my luckyscent sample pack a few days ago. I'm definitely wowed by the craftsmanship in each of these compositions. I have a few faves already, but I haven't tried them all yet. The only thing that to me is sadly lacking is longevity and projection. An hour into wearing them I practically have to stick my nose into my wrist to get a faint whiff of any of the scents I've tested so far, which is a shame since the perfumes themselves are amazing - and if they were turned up a little... louder, I expect they'd develop really beautifully on the skin.

Re: Ramon Monegal, Barcelona: A New Line

Bump.

These are my impressions of the underated Mon Patchouli fragrance from the line:

Patchouli and Jasmine joined together in a wonderful harmony, who would have thought these two notes would go together so well. It is joined with hints of geranium,amber with a touch of incense but the main interplay is between the Jasmine and Patchouli.

It has very good projection and lasts for ages though it is very linear. It's basically these two notes then the jasmine gets powdery in the basenotes. It smells wonderful though can get a little bit annoying after hour five but thats just me.

If you can imagine the Patchouli in Givenchy Gentlmen lightened with quality jasmine which is a bit powdery then you basically got it. Smells good and a jasmine that a man can wear with confidence because of the patchouli.